Spandau Ballet's children tried to get them back together.

The quintet — Tony Hadley, John Keeble, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp and Steve Norman — confirmed yesterday they are playing a reunion tour in October but revealed it would have happened much sooner if they had listened to their kids.

Speaking at a London press conference on anchored ship HMS Belfast — where they played a legendary show in 1980 — guitarist Gary Kemp revealed: "Mine and Tony's sons actually got together in the pub about two years ago and said to each other, 'How can we get our dads talking again, how can we get them together?' "

Gary Kemp was involved in a bitter court battle over royalty payments with Hadley, Keeble and Norman in 1999.

The 'Gold' hitmakers have now put their differences behind them, but one member was concerned there would not be a place for him in the reunited line-up.

Bassist Martin Kemp — who has enjoyed a successful acting career since leaving the group, including a lengthy stint in British soap 'EastEnders' — said: "The first thing we played together again was 'I'll Fly For You'. I think it was a bit of a test for me because I'd always found it hard!"

Drummer Keeble joked: "That's right, we had a queue of bassists outside just waiting to come in."

The eight-date tour begins on 13 October in Dublin, Ireland.